On June 24, for the first time in more than a decade, the Palmer Park log cabin — the only log cabin in Detroit -- will be open to the public. Log Cabin Day will reconnect the history and future of one of Detroit’s largest and most beautiful parks.

Log cabin tour guides — dressed in late 19th century attire that the Palmers may have worn — will share the rich history of Palmer Park and the Palmers, one of the early Detroit families.

The log cabin was built of oak logs in 1885 as a summer home for Sen. Thomas Palmer and his wife Lizzie Merrill Palmer.

Thomas Palmer was involved in real estate and politics on the state and national levels and was a founder of what is now the Detroit Institute for the Arts. In 1894, he donated 120 acres to the city for a public park, and donated more over the next few years.

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The 1 to 4 p.m. event is created by People for Palmer Park, with support from the City of Detroit, Wayne State University, local businesses and others. It is part of the 26th Michigan Log Cabin Day, which celebrates log cabins throughout the state. From the tip of the Upper Peninsula to Battle Creek, events celebrating Michigan’s history are planned to showcase more than 100 log cabins.

In Palmer Park, live music, square dancing, and special activities for children will add to the festivities. An old-fashioned ice-cream social will take place at 2 p.m. with free ice cream donated by Guernsey Farms Dairy in Northville. The dairy has been a family-run business founded by John McGuire in 1940. One of McGuire’s ancestors, Joseph I. Ray, was a carpenter who helped build the Palmer Park log cabin, which was designed by the firm of George Mason and Zacharia Rice.

Members of the Log Cabin Society of Michigan will be in attendance.

For many years, the Palmer Log Cabin was a tourist attraction and a

museum to the old ways of homesteading and one of Detroit’s founding

families. The cabin was located on a family farm where the Palmers raised

Arabian and Percheron horses, and had orchards. It closed to the public in

1979.

On June 24, visitors will be able to view both floors of the log cabin interior. Boards will be taken off the first-floor windows so the stained glass windows will be visible. The last time the public was invited in was 2001, during Detroit’s tricentennial celebration. This time, the People for Palmer Park want to open it up to preview plans for a restoration,

and to collect ideas and some contributions for the project. Architects’ plans will be on display.

People for Palmer Park have developed a master restoration plan, and are

working with the City of Detroit and local businesses and groups to add and

restore areas for the public use and good. This summer, a baseball diamond will be revitalized, new information kiosks installed and a new or used playscape for children will be installed.

The park will be open until 10 p.m. June 24.

Activities that day will include Wayne State University theater students performing in character as Sen. and Mrs. Palmer, as well as others who will be guides and roving actors — all costumed in period clothing.

The log cabin is located in one corner of Palmer Park, off Merrill Plaisance near Woodward and McNichols.

Donations to People for Palmer Park, a non-profit organization, will be accepted.

People for Palmer Park is an organization committed to the preservation,

reinvention, and revitalization of Palmer Park. The park comprises 296 acres of lawns and historic woodlands, a public golf course, tennis courts, outdoor pool, hiking and biking trails, Lake Frances, a historic log cabin, and more. Located between Six and Seven Mile roads and west of Woodward